Tensions rose at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Thursday evening after a confrontation between the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-backed student organisations. The dispute erupted during a Durga idol immersion procession, with both sides accusing each other of disrupting cultural traditions and misusing religion for politics.

ABVP’s Allegations

According to ABVP, the clashes began around 7 pm near Sabarmati T-Point. They alleged that members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) tried to stop the procession. ABVP claimed that the groups threw stones, used abusive language, and injured several participants, including women students.

ABVP JNU president Mayank Panchal condemned the incident, saying, “This is not just an attack on a religious event, but a direct attack on the university’s festive tradition and the faith of the students. The ABVP will not tolerate such cultural aggression at any cost."

ABVP JNU minister Praveen Piyush also reacted strongly. He said, “Stone-pelting and even attacking female students during a sacred ritual like Durga Visarjan is condemnable and shameful," and demanded strict action from the administration.

JNUSU joint secretary Vaibhav Meena echoed these views, calling it “a direct assault on the cultural harmony and brotherhood of the university."

Left Groups Hit Back

The Left-backed groups, however, denied the accusations. Instead, they accused ABVP of politicising religious traditions through a controversial Ravan Dahan event. According to AISA, ABVP had allegedly used effigies of former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam as Ravan. Both Khalid and Imam are currently facing trial in cases related to the anti-CAA protests and the Delhi riots conspiracy.

In its statement, AISA said, “This is a blatant and dastardly display of Islamophobia, exploiting religious sentiments to harvest political benefits."

The group questioned ABVP’s choice of symbolism and asked why effigies of Nathuram Godse, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, or people accused of sparking the 2020 Delhi riots were not used instead.

The statement further read, “JNU rejects the politics of hate and Islamophobia," and urged students to resist what it described as “the divisive politics of RSS-ABVP."

Campus Atmosphere

Both sides continue to blame each other for trying to divide the campus and disturb cultural life. The JNU administration has not yet released an official statement on the incident.